Letter - Don't blame a fan for the Cubs' huge collapse

To the editor:

The Cubs lost another chance to go to the World Series. One cannot blame goats, black cats, bad karma or a beleaguered fan for their curse. The curse of the Cubs lies in balls traveling through legs, bouncing off gloves and soaring over walls.

Eight runs in an inning in the postseason is an absolute meltdown -- regardless of the efforts of a Cubs fan to catch a foul ball, which by the rules laid out is perfectly acceptable. Moises Alou was an average outfielder trying to make an exceptional play. Alou might have missed the ball without the fan's interference.

The same blowhards berating this unfortunate human being are the same people that would have done the exact same thing. When a ball is slicing into the stands at a fair rate of speed, any fan worth their salt would put their hands up and try to catch it.

The fact that this Cubs fan was showered with beer and verbally threatened in the name of retribution is totally nuts. One would have thought city alderman might have voted for the reinstatement of public stonings bright and early on Wednesday morning. To blame a poor guy for robbing the Cubbies is pure denial.

The truth: The Cubs were simply outplayed. While the champagne is drying in the Marlin's locker room, diehard Cubs fans should blame the real goats: the Cubs. Forget about some mythical curse. Give credit to the National League Champion Marlins for winning three games in a row in the face of elimination.

This winter will be particularly harsh for the Cubs and their fans -- probably infinitely longer for the scapegoat fan -- but with spring comes hope that the "curse" will be debunked and the Windy City will be emancipated from a centurylong funk.TOM EDWARDS

Cape Girardeau